“For too long we have thought of the Christian life as essentially either involvement in political, economic, social concerns that wears us out and result in depression or activity which keeps the church intact and doctrinally pure. Our primary orientation cannot be an institution or some great cause or even other people, but first and forever to God. Unless our identity is hid in God we will never know who we are or what we are to do. Our first act must be prayer...To be human is to pray, to meditate both day and night on the love and activity of God. We are called to be continuously formed and transformed by the thought of God within us. Prayer is a disciplined dedication to paying attention. Without the singleminded attentiveness of prayer we will rarely hear anything worth repeating or catch a vision worth asking anyone else to gaze upon.” - from The Spiritual Life by John H. Westerhoff III and John D. Eusden (Bold mine.)
Gene, Thomas and I have been thinking and praying through why we do what we do and who we do it for. A very good thing to do on a regular basis. Incite also spent a lot of time encouraging us, as campus pastors, to examine our purpose and the 'why' of what we do in our ministries. It is good to be reminded that our why is "first and forever to God" and His kingdom.
What do I have to share that is worth anyone giving their life to? Nothing. I need God's vision, heart, and passion, then I will have something worth gazing at, a vision worth pointing to, something worth dying for.
I discover God's passion in prayer - attentive prayer. I need to practice that kind of prayer. Its not something I do naturally. I do a lot of asking, instead of listening. I am going to start paying attention more. Will join with me in attentive, singleminded prayer? Thanks.
